He woke up and opened the curtains. The sunlight dazzled him, as another glorious day began. He opened the window and took in a breath of the fresh air, exhaling exaggeratedly. A new start lay ahead.
He had slept well, the best rest he could remember for a long time. He thought his mind would have been disturbed, but he only felt an overwhelming sense of calmness. There were no dreams or nightmares or visions of her blood-spattered body lying broken at the bottom of the gully. Only now, as he waited for the kettle to boil, did he think back on the previous evening.
They had spent the day walking up the steep tracks along the side of the mountain, gradually ascending to the top in time to catch the sunset as planned. It had been a pleasant day, almost pleasant enough to make him reconsider. In the end though, as they had stood, arm-in-arm on the crest of the peak, he had resolved to go through with it.
As she nattered away inanely, ruining the peaceful moment of beauty, he knew it was time for them to part.
Other walkers and climbers had descended already, not wishing to make the trek down in the encroaching darkness of twilight.
It came easier to him than he had thought. He had no reservations and it was over with one swift shove. She teetered for a moment, her hands clawing, reaching out to grab onto him. He merely stepped out of her reach. The look of terror in her eyes hadn’t caused him to change his mind.
And then she had disappeared over the edge. There had been that piercing scream, followed by a sickening thud. Then nothing but blissful silence.
The doorbell rang at the same moment as the kettle clicked. He frowned, an early morning delivery perhaps. He walked to the door and opened it.
‘Mr. Davis?’
He nodded. Panic gripped his heart, but he maintained his calm exterior.
‘Police, sir. A few questions, if you don’t mind.’
‘Certainly, officer. About what? My wife is still asleep in the bedroom.’ A polite smile, appearance unruffled.
‘Well, sir, turns out your mistress is tougher than you realised.’

This is a response to the #writephoto Prompt – New curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.
My first novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is available now
Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Book Depository
Amazon.in / Amazon.au / Amazon.ca
😱 oh wow!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Joy 🙂
LikeLike
Brilliant. Very taut. I loved the ending too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Neel, much appreciated
LikeLike
Oh, oh, caught! Good story Iain.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Helene 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant, a double surprise!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, glad it surprised you 🙂
LikeLike
Uh oh.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, a spot of bother
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great sting in the tail Iain , loved it! 🤭💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
Brilliant ending!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Joanne 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This mistress one tough cookie. They man could sleep peacefully one night thinking his problem is done and dusted. Now he has bigger problems to deal with. Nice end.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Abhijit
LikeLike
Oh, my…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant tale for Valentines Day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m all romantic! 😉 Thanks for the reblog
LikeLike
Great twist☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ritu 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, he’s in trouble in more ways than one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He has a lot of explaining to do, but he will have plenty of time to think about what he has done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha that’s great, love that ending 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Kate 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Di 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Final line, plot twist. Awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Liz, glad you liked it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Very Rebus..
LikeLiked by 1 person
A compliment I think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should assume so if I were you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You write in a very readable way. I was completely pulled into the story and wondered where on earth it was going. The ending was so unexpected. It lifted the story into unexpected territory. I like the way you finished it in such an open-ended way so that reader can supply the ending they choose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Suzanne, much appreciated 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s got some explaining to do, for sure. Great plot twist, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
A nice twist. He deserved to be caught.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He certainly did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍
LikeLike
Ha! Loved the ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Wow Iain! What a roller coaster ride it was! Great take on the prompt. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Anjana
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Well done, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jennie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uuuups! What a surprise! 🙂 Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
I enjoyed the ride you took me on. A contented man who had a refreshing nights sleep turns out to be a soulless murderer. Love the surprise ending. His “new start” has a whole new meaning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
His wife may enjoy the new start too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great ending. He never saw that coming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michele
LikeLike
Uh oh.. Beautiful twist Iain….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Violet
LikeLike
Nice! Glad to see he won’t get away with it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely beautiful. That mistress sure knows how to ruin a guy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – I think he will find little sympathy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almsot instant Karma… nice 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sue 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh! Now this ending made me smile! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person